The Danish government has announced plans to extend its ban on face-covering garments, including burqas…
Tag: religious freedom
THESSALONIKI — Greece occupies a central position in Donald Trump’s strategic planning for energy, artificial…
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew held a key meeting at the Phanar with the US Ambassador…
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has conferred the title of Archon “Didaskalos tou Genous” upon Greek-American entrepreneur…
A call to overturn the landmark US Supreme Court decision legalising same-sex marriage America-wide is…
Breaking: Trump Declares Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" Amid Mass Slaughter of Christians
President Trump redesignates Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the mass killing of Christians, pledging U.S. support to protect global Christian communities.
Turkey is listed among 38 countries practicing systematic religious discrimination in the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report by Aid to the Church in Need. The report highlights global declines in religious freedom, driven by authoritarianism, ethno-religious nationalism, and the misuse of AI to suppress belief.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew highlighted the central role of monasticism within the Orthodox Church during…
Newly appointed US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a pivotal Washington DC encounter, underscoring unbreakable US-Greece bonds and Orthodox faith. Explore the details.
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate congratulate Kimberly Guilfoyle on her Senate confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Greece on September 18, 2025. In a meeting with Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, Guilfoyle discussed protecting the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual center for 300 million Orthodox Christians. She expressed gratitude to President Trump and the Senate, pledging to strengthen U.S.-Greece ties.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew defended his 2019 recognition of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church during a speech in New York, criticizing the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He condemned Moscow’s “Russian world” ideology and called for peace in global conflicts.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson formally welcomed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Capitol, where the…
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets Trump in historic White House encounter, discussing Christian challenges in Turkey and more. Explore insights from this September 15, 2025, meeting.
Turkish authorities have once again banned the Divine Liturgy at the historic Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon, preventing Dormition Feast celebrations for the second consecutive year.
Israeli authorities have frozen the bank accounts of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, citing unpaid property taxes on non-religious properties, escalating a long-running dispute.
The new US Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, discussing key issues including the Patriarchate’s upcoming US visit, the situation of Christians in Syria, and the reopening of the Halki Theological School.
Church leaders in Jerusalem condemned a settler attack on the Christian town of Taybeh in the West Bank, where vehicles were torched and racist graffiti was sprayed. Describing it as an act of intimidation, they criticized Israeli authorities for downplaying the incident and urged accountability under international law.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, addressing the UN Security Council, condemned escalating violence in Syria’s Sweida region and attacks on religious sites, including Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches. He called for a Syrian-led, inclusive political transition in line with UN Resolution 2254 and urged full protection of all religious and ethnic communities amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Greece has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus, calling for justice, religious tolerance, and the protection of Syria’s diverse communities. Speaking at the United Nations, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris stressed the need for reconciliation and long-term peace, describing the attack as an assault on all Syrians and their shared future.
The Greek Foreign Ministry condemns the terrorist suicide bombing at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, calling for accountability and protection of religious communities in Syria.
The USCIRF has recommended Turkey for the U.S. State Department’s Special Watch List due to severe religious freedom violations, as outlined in its 2025 annual report. The report cites ongoing restrictions on religious minorities, including Alevis, Protestant Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who face barriers to legal recognition, worship, and clergy residency.
Egypt’s nationalization of lands surrounding St. Catherine’s Monastery, the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in the Sinai Desert, has sparked outrage in Greece and concern among Orthodox leaders
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has issued a strong appeal to the Egyptian government following a court ruling that threatens the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. Expressing deep concern, he emphasized the site’s profound religious, cultural, and historical significance, calling on international leaders and communities of faith to defend the monastery’s autonomy and sacred mission.
President Trump appointed Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Advisory Board of the Religious Liberty Commission, established May 1, 2025, to promote religious freedom nationwide.
After nearly 1,700 years, a new temple dedicated to Zeus and Pan has been built in Arcadia, Greece, reviving ancient Hellenic worship. The temple, constructed on a private estate by Dr. Manolis Heliotis and overseen by archaeologist Evangelos Bexis, has sparked both excitement and controversy. While supporters celebrate the return of ancient Greek spiritual practices, the Greek Orthodox Church and government authorities have raised opposition, with legal battles ongoing.
Christian leaders in Jerusalem are condemning the Jerusalem Municipality’s attempt to seize Armenian Church land, calling it a legally dubious and morally unacceptable act that threatens the centuries-old Christian presence in the Holy Land. They urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to intervene as the municipality claims decades of unpaid taxes, a claim the Patriarchate denies.
A growing wave of nationalism in Turkey is increasingly marginalizing the country’s Christian minority, according to the *World Watch List 2025*. The report highlights significant challenges faced by Christians, including societal discrimination, legal hurdles, and attacks on churches, particularly in regions with ethnic and religious tensions. Despite Christianity’s historical presence, converts and Christian communities face persistent hostility and persecution, with many fleeing to escape violence and systemic discrimination.
Greek-Australian Archbishop Makarios, alongside other Christian leaders, has condemned the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and condemning the violence against Jews following the Hamas terror attacks in Gaza. In his call for peace, he highlights the illogical and harmful conflation of individuals with the actions of national governments, urging unity and the protection of all Australians’ rights and freedoms.
Turkey’s Constitutional Court has ruled that barring two Greek Orthodox clerics from serving on a foundation board violated their right to freedom of association. The decision, published in the Official Gazette and reported by Agos news website, follows a similar ruling in 2023.
President Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president and recipient of the 1987 Athenagoras Human Rights Award, passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024. Known for his humanitarian work, peace efforts, and deep Christian commitment, Carter’s legacy includes the Camp David Accords and his Nobel Peace Prize. He was a staunch advocate for human rights and played a key role in the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s reconstruction efforts. His passing marks the loss of a moral leader whose dedication to global peace and dignity will be remembered.
